Canberra's community sector workers say they've been delivered a lifeline to maintain important services.
But they're still waiting for the federal government to come to the party.
The ACT government on Tuesday announced it would follow New South Wales, Victoria and the majority of other states in committing funding to the community services sector to retain jobs beyond 2021.
The additional funding has been paid by both the federal and ACT governments since 2012 - following a Fair Work Commission Equal Remuneration Order - to help address gender based pay inequity, with the sector dominated by women.
The funding announced - worth about $9 million over the next three years - will continue those payments for ACT funded services, however those funded by the Commonwealth face uncertainty beyond 2021.
ACT Council of Social Service CEO Emma Campbell said the funding was crucial to tackling the gender pay gap.
"The community sector has been working overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect members of our community, while keeping essential services running," she said.
"We encourage all ACT political parties to commit to cover the cost of the [order] and to revitalise the commissioning, procurement and contract management process across the ACT government in partnership with the community sector."
Dr Campbell called on the Commonwealth government to similarly continue to fund the payments for federally funded community services.
"If the Commonwealth government does not commit to renewing this funding, the combined risks of widening the gender pay gap and the impact on service delivery to vulnerable community members will be substantial," she said.
Woden Community Service CEO Jenny Kitchin said the payments helped the organisation attract and retain staff, something that is particularly important in Canberra due to the competition from the public sector.
"At a time when we really need to have skilled professional staff, its a great way of being able to do that," she said.
She said without the funding, she would not be able to pay some staff the salary levels they currently receive.
Ms Kitchen echoed calls for the federal government to commit to retaining the payment for services it funds.
Community Services Minister Suzanne Orr said the funding would provide certainty to the sector.
"With this announcement today, we want every worker and community partner to know the ACT government is committed to maintaining the pay levels set out in the [order]," she said.
